Cities in Germany are facing major challenges. The mobility turnaround is one of the most pressing. As if this were not enough, there is a parallel desire for broader public participation. Heterogeneous interests need to be integrated.

Planning and mobility departments of municipal administrations are reaching their limits here. Expert discussions go round in circles. The possibilities of alternative mobility solutions for the "last mile" are known to too few stakeholders. Political representatives often shy away from decisions or try to rationalize them through a multitude of studies. As a result, decision-making and implementation in the community are delayed.

What is needed are modern facilitation tools, tailored to complex issues, with a wide range of stakeholders. In the Netherlands, state and municipal administrations increasingly rely on the use of games (simulation games or policy games).

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy selected our project in a multi-stage process as part of the Innovative Business Processes (IGP) funding program. Our communication solution facilitates professional exchange and significantly accelerates implementation. Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

In games, it is possible to involve groups of participants in discussions regardless of age, level of education or ethnic background. Everyone can play. Our idea combines the advantages of digital and analog games: A digital 'plug-in' for analog simulation games in the area of mobility transition, with a focus on micromobility or the last mile. The basic framework is formed by analog simulation games created in fast co-creation processes. This ensures a quick adaptation to the local situation. These games are enriched with digital data and linked to reality. The digital enhancement ensures the import of actual mobility data. This data significantly supports the professional exchange on issues related to the mobility transition (cargo bikes, micro depots, cost transparency of individual transport modes...). Complexity and scope can be varied depending on the target group. This increases the realism and significance of the simulated settings. And: the solutions achieve a broader acceptance, because we let the participants in the game - digitally guided - adopt contrary perspectives. The adoption of perspectives and interests is facilitated for participants (for example, through digital voting processes).

With the outlined solution, our clients have access to an almost unlimited number of scenarios. The digital plug-in to be created connects to already existing simulation concepts and picks up the platform idea in parallel. In an open source variant, the result could be made available to planning offices and mobility associations. Our solution combines individual haptic solutions with standardized electronic elements. This saves resources and costs in the creation.